Improvement in post-hole diggers



N. w. GAY.

Post-Hole Diggers.

Patented March 3,1874.

IJV'VENTOB WITWQSSES:

.dttorneys.

UNITE :51

NOAH WV. GAY, OF DRESDEN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO JAMES P. BRYANT.

IMPROVEMENT IN POST-HOLE DIGGERS.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,204, dated March 3, 1874; application filed June 27, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NOAH WV. GAY, of Dresden, in the county of Muskin gum and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PostHole Diggers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in post-hole diggers; and consists as follows:

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved post-hole digger; Fig. 2, a perspective view of one of the spring tines or blades; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section.

Arepresents a cast cylindrical head, into which screws a hollow handle or shaft, B. Said cylindrical head is cast with grooves or slots to andI lugs or projections to on its periphery. G represents the blades, bent in the form shown, and provided with tenon-heads 0. These blades are at this end of a width suffieient to lie snug between the lugs or projections a on the head A, and allow the tenonheads 0 to enter the slots a. The blades or tines O are held in position on the head A by means of the band D. Into the end of the handle or shaft B is secured a lever, b, which, by being placed in suitable holes in the handle, is used to screw up or unscrew the handle from the head. This lever has a heavy square or other form of head, I), which, when in the handle, may be used as a pestle to pack the earth around the posts after they are set.

By making the blades separate from the head, they are readily removed for sharpening or, if broken, a newone set in, without the loss of the whole instrument. Any wear to the blades or head is taken up by the band D. The peculiar shape and the elasticity of the blades assist it in holding large quantities of earth, 850., placed into it in the act of digging without much liability of spilling.

The weight of the instrument, it being cast metal, assists it in penetrating the earth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a post-hole digger, the solid metallic head A, provided with annular grooves aand the lugs or projections a, in combination with the curved blades- 0 c, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown;

2. The combination of metallic handle B, screw-tapped in its upper end, provided with the pestle-headed lever b b, screw-tapped metallic head A a a, constructed as set forth, blades 0, and ferrule D, all constructed and united as set forth and shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of June, 187 3.

NOAH W. GAY.

Witnesses H. COPELAND, WM. AKEROYD. 

